"There is no friend as loyal as a book."
— Ernest Hemingway

London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1889. FIRST EDITION INSCRIBED PRESENTATION COPY. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.vi; 421; [1]; [16 of advertisements]. Publisher's blue cloth blocked in gilt to spine and upper, patterned endpapers. With a card inscribed and signed by Conan Doyle affixed to the pastedown: "R. Hemingsley. | from his sincere friend | A. Conan Doyle". Publisher's presentation blind stamp to half title and title pages, ownership stamp of Alice Hemingsley to half-title. Some light spotting to the textblock, likely unread with a few gatherings unopened, front endpaper joint neatly parted, binding with a few minor marks but essentially a clean bright copy. Hemingsley, the recipient, was a critic with the Birmingham Daily Times, apparently held in high regard by Conan Doyle. Item #50447
Price: £1,250.00